But many species of these aquatic apex predators are now in danger of dying out forever. Of the thousand known species of sharks and rays (sharks’ closest living relatives), over a third of them are at risk of extinction. And since sharks are “indicators of ocean health,” as sharks go, so does the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. A 2021 report showed over the last 50 years, global shark and ray populations have fallen more than 70%. Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, oceanic whitetip shark numbers in the Pacific Ocean have fallen an estimated 80 to 95% within the last 30 years, according to NOAA.

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Persons: They’ve, ”, Reinhard Dirscherl, Nick Dulvy, “, Ocean Foundation It’s Organizations: CNN, “ Sharks, Rays, NOAA, Ocean Foundation Locations: Texas